Process for carroting animal fibers



, ing properties amongst other things are en- Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,719,043 PATENT OFFICE.

vix'ron noun, or VIENNA, AUSTRIA.

PROCESS FOR GARROTING ANIMAL FIBERS.

Ho Drawing. Application filed October 1, 1925, Serial No. 59,973, and in Austria-November 20, 1824.

This invention relates to the working up according to the invention enable carrot of animal fibers, such for example as hair, into felts, more particularly for the manufacture of hats.

The invention is based on the discovery that by treatin animal fibers, such for example as the hair of hares, rabbits or the like, with aldehyde and ketone carroting means, felts of high value are obtainable, and that by secretages of this kind a refinement or improvement of the fibers. or hair is effected, whereby on the one hand its felting or fullhanced and its yield is increased, and on the other hand even inferior sorts'of fiber or hair are materially improved in quality. Waste hair and even long coarse hair as distinguished from wool hair which is subjected to the process according to the invention assumes properties which enable it to be completely utilized for the manufacture of bat bodies or foundations without leading to inferior products.

The process according to the invention however also enables waste from other industries, such for example as waste and hair arising from tanning and fur industries, to be rendered usable for the manufacture of hat bodies.

The aldehyde and ketone carroting means may be employed either alone or in conjunction with other carroting means, such for example as metallic salt secretages such as mercury secretages and the like.

Amongst aldehyde carroting means there r are to be considered carroting means which contain formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde and the like, singly or mixed together, and also their compounds, more particularly with bisulphites or which consist of or decompose into these materials, particularly formaldehyde. As aldehyde mixtures there are for example alsoavailable the aldehydes obtained from the fusel oil spirit manufacture, as obtained chiefly from the first runnmgs.

Amongst ketone carroting means are to be considered carroting means containing acetone, aceto-acetic ester, acetophenone and the like, and also their compounds or mixtures,

consisting of these materials or decomposing To the carrotin process accor ing to the invention may also e subjected fur the felting of which has been begun in the ordinary way, or half-planked or sized felt (Labraz) or this carroting means may be added to the planking or sizing liquid and the planking or felting properties 'of the fur or halfplanked felt thereby materially improved. 1

After the secretage process, a treatment with an oxidizing medium, such for example as hydrogen peroxide, a permanganate, a perborate or the like is preferable, whereby the unpleasant smell of the aldehydes or ketonescan be taken from the carroted goods, The use of an oxidizing medium which enhances the carroting effect is preferable, such for example. as hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid or the like.

Example.

The hair of hares, rabbits or the like is placed in a formaldehyde solution of any desired concentration or dilution, slightly acidified with sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid or the like, and exposed to the action of this solution at a raised temperature between about 25 and 80 centigrade. The duration of thereaction varies according to the quality of the hair and the concentration and temperature of the solution from half an hour to 40 hours or more. Hereupon it is drained or centrifuged and then treated with an oxidizing medium such as hydrogen peroxide, whereby the unpleasant smell of the formaldehyde is eliminated.

The process according to the invention may a also be carried out under pressure attemperatures above C.

Furthermore the process can also be carried out by exposing the hair, moistened if desired with water, to formaldehyde vapours. Aldehydes and ketones have in common the feature nicely distinguishing them from any other organic compounds, that they contain one or more carbonyl (0 0) groups. What I.claim is:

comprising carroting said fibers by treating them with a neutral carroting agent containing a carbonyl group.

2. The process 0 treating animal fibers comprising carroting said fibers by subject- 1. The process of treating animal fibers ing them to the action of a carroting agent treating themwith a neutral carroting agent containing a carbonyl group and treating said carroted fibers with an oxidizing medium.

5. A. process for treatin animal fibers comprising car-roting said fi them with a carroting agent containing substances which on decomposition yield a nontral carroting agent containing a carbonyl group.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed 20 my name.

VIKTOR BOHM.

ers by treating 15 

